Purbaya 'Blacklists' and Demands LPDP Scholarship Recipient Return Funds
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has revealed a series of consequences for AP, a recipient of a scholarship from the Education Fund Management Institution (LPDP), whose family is considered to have demeaned Indonesian citizenship. Purbaya has communicated with the LPDP’s chief executive regarding the fallout from AP’s viral case.
Purbaya said AP had agreed to return the education funds he received as an LPDP awardee, along with interest. “We will enforce the existing LPDP regulations so that the individual concerned fulfils his obligations to LPDP,” Purbaya said at a press conference streamed on the Ministry of Finance’s YouTube channel on Monday, 23 February 2026. “He appears to have agreed to return the money used from LPDP.”
Purbaya estimated the total education funds AP must repay runs into billions of rupiah, though he did not specify the exact figure.
AP is the husband of LPDP alumni Dwi Sasetyaningtyas. The case came to light after Dwi posted about her children’s citizenship status on social media. “I know the world looks unfair. But let me be the only Indonesian citizen — not my children. Let’s make sure the children have strong foreign passports,” Dwi said in a video recording that circulated on social media.
After the video went viral, Dwi deleted the post, but the recording had already spread widely and become a topic of public debate. Many netizens expressed dismay at Dwi’s remarks, viewing them as disparaging her own country.
Shortly after the controversy erupted, Dwi issued an apology on her personal Instagram account. She said her statement stemmed from personal disappointment, exhaustion, and frustration as an Indonesian citizen regarding various conditions. However, she acknowledged that such grievances should not have been expressed in a manner that could hurt many people’s feelings.
Purbaya expressed regret over Dwi’s social media content celebrating her success in obtaining British passports for her children. The former chairman of the Indonesia Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Board of Commissioners deemed the conduct an insult to Indonesia, particularly given that both Dwi and her husband received scholarships funded by public taxes.
Purbaya stressed that such behaviour was not the appropriate way to express dissatisfaction with one’s homeland. “This is money from taxes and partly from debt that we set aside to ensure our human resources can grow. But if it is used to insult the nation, then we will demand the money back with interest,” Purbaya said.
He said AP would be placed on a blacklist, barring him from a career in government. Purbaya confirmed AP would also face additional sanctions for the perceived insult to Indonesia.
“I will blacklist him. He will not be able to enter any part of government,” Purbaya said.
LPDP also expressed regret over Dwi’s remarks. In an official statement, LPDP indicated it suspected that AP, also an alumni scholarship recipient, had not yet fulfilled his mandatory service obligation in Indonesia after completing his studies.
“LPDP is currently conducting an internal review regarding this suspicion. LPDP will summon AP to request clarification,” the institution said via its official X account on Friday, 20 February 2026.